How We Help

Disability Tax Credit Service (DTC)

Are You Living with a Disability?

With us, you keep more of your refund. Unlike other firms that charge 30% of your refund, we charge a flat fee.

DTC cases start at 197 plus adjustments for the numbers of years you qualify. Call us for details.

Who & What Qualifies

In our practice, 90% of the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) clients we work with have disabilities that have lasted for more then 10 years. On the positive side, we are able to help people recover the refunds owed to them, usually substantial amounts; the down side is that no one informed them of their eligibility prior to coming to Solution One. Not their accountant, their tax preparer or Aunt Susie who’s been preparing their tax returns for years, using the “copy what I put on last year’s tax return onto this year’s tax return” method. The other sad part is that many have lost years of refund money due to the fact that Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) only allows us to go back 10 years to make adjustments. Thus many disabled individuals unwittingly lose thousands of dollars as of every January 1st.

Eligibility for the DTC is based on the effects of the disability rather than its presence and whether Life-sustaining therapies are involved. You may have seen long lists of disabilities that may possibly qualify for the DTC but don’t be fooled by this. To qualify CRA states the disability must be a severe and prolonged mental or physical impairment such that you are markedly restricted in your ability to perform the basic activities of daily living.

Don’t be discouraged by CRA’s statement and assume you don’t qualify. Many individuals have been living with their impairment for so long, that sometimes they forget the extra effort required for day-to-day activities. Get a professional opinion before discounting either yourself or a loved one.

So what does the CRA mean by prolonged impairment, markedly restricted, basic activities of daily living, and Life-sustaining therapy?

Prolonged impairment means that the impairment has lasted or can reasonably be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months.

Markedly restricted means that all, or almost all of the time, even with therapy and the use of appropriate aids and medication, you are unable to perform a basic activity of daily living. Or it takes you an extremely long time to do so.

1. You receive the therapy to support a vital function, even if it alleviates the symptoms. Examples of this therapy are chest physiotherapy to facilitate breathing and kidney dialysis to filter blood. However, implanted devices such as a pacemaker, or special programs of diet, exercise, or hygiene do not qualify.

2. You have to dedicate time for this therapy – at least 3 times a week, for an average of at least 14 hours a week (do not include time needed to recuperate after therapy, for travel, medical appointments, or shopping for medication). Time dedicated to therapy means that you must be required to take time away from normal, everyday activities in order to receive the therapy. The time it takes for a portable or implanted device to deliver therapy is not considered to be time dedicated to therapy.

For 2005 and later years, where the life-sustaining therapy requires a regular dosage of medication that needs to be adjusted on a daily basis:

The activities directly related to determining the dosage are considered part of the therapy, except for those activities related to exercise or following a dietary regime, such as carbohydrate calculation; and

The time spent by primary caregivers performing and supervising the activities related to the therapy of a child because of his or her age is considered to be time dedicated to this therapy.

In 2006, CRA quietly slipped in a new definition, “Significantly restricted” which means, according to CRA, that although you do not quite meet the criteria for markedly restricted, your ability to perform a basic activity of daily living is still substantially restricted.

Who writes this stuff? No wonder people are confused and frustrated trying to make a DTC claim! Give us a call. We can make this process painless.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Solution One get paid?

Our company charges a service fee based on the time we spend on a file and the number of adjustments required. This distinguishes us from other companies that charge up to 30% of your refund.

Can I file the DTC myself?Absolutely. Like most government programs, they are designed to allow you to complete them on your own. As with your income tax return, you can file it yourself or have it completed by a professional. Of course, we are a little biased; we work in this field daily and it is our job to maximize your refund while making sure there are no flags raised for CRA.

How long does it take to get my refund?

Most clients will receive their refund in less then 90 days. Some of the refund years can be electronically transmitted. These e-filed adjustments can arrive as soon as 2 weeks. There are some cases that can take longer - up to 6 months depending on CRA’s backlog.

How do I get the money?CRA either sends you a cheque or Direct Deposits your refund. We can assist you to setup a Direct Deposit if that is your preference.

Why didn’t my accountant or the Government tell me about the DTC?

Your Accountant does not specialize in this area of work. We see this everyday. A new client comes to our office and, after asking some questions, we end up recommending the DTC to them. They are usually shocked that they didn’t know or weren’t told about this before. Most of the claims our office processes (80%-90%) cover 10 years. This is a result of accountants or tax preparers not asking the right questions. As for the Government, they do announce their programs; they don’t have the resources to inform every Canadian about each program. So it’s up to you or your representative to get the appropriate information.

Will this affect my eligibility for ODSP?No. This has no effect on your eligibility for ODSP.

If the disabled person is deceased, can a family member still apply for this credit/refund?Yes. As long as the person has not been deceased longer than ten years.

What if I owe money to the CRA or other government programs?The CRA will first pay off your debts and then send you the balance.

My doctor said I don’t qualify as disabled, is he correct?Not always. Your doctor is trained in the area of medicine and is generally not an expert when it comes to the DTC or the tax rules. Also note that what your doctor considers a disability doesn’t usually apply to the DTC.

I am not severely disabled; can I still apply for the DTC and related credits/benefits?

Yes. If you or someone you know applied in the past and were turned down, it may be a different situation today. CRA rules have changed. In the past you needed to be in a wheelchair or to have some other severe disability to qualify; todayCRA has deemed eligible many conditions that were previously not accepted.

I do not have any taxable income because of my disability. Do I still qualify?

Yes. Eligibility for the DTC is not determined by your annual taxable income. The DTC can be transferred to supporting family members to reduce their taxes payable. Other benefits include:

Qualifying for the RDSP;

The DTC exempts you from the “first time home buyer” requirement to use your RRSP for the Home Buyers’ Plan;

The Child Tax Benefit is increased by the Child Disability Benefit (CDB) for children who qualify for the DTC;

New for 2009, the Home Buyer Credit Amount of $5,000 is available for the purchase of a home for people with disabilities;

Renovations to a home inhabited by a person with a disability may be claimed as a medical expense; and

If your working income is low you may qualify for the WITB disability supplement.

How much can I potentially get?This of course varies with every client. A basic DTC claim for an Adult able to claim back 10 years can be as much as $13,000; for a child, as much as $21,000. Recently we completed some work for a family of four. One spouse and two children were eligible for the DTC. Not all were eligible to go back the full 10 years, but by the time we were finished the DTC & CDBS, credits amounted to over $70,000 in refunds. They also receive an extra $4,000 in CDBS as long as the children qualify and $7,000 of tax savings annually. Not bad for a family that knew nothing about the DTC before coming to us.

Note: call us for updated details as CRA changes the rules from time to time.